Happy Birthday

ARTICLES ABOUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY BY DATE - PAGE 2

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz who, as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, is champion to fellow party stalwarts and scourge to the opposition, never let on it was her 46th birthday Thursday when she appeared on a local radio show to promote a veterans job fair. But on-air scamps Paul and Young Ron of BIG 105.9 FM surprised the giggling Weston congresswoman with a chocolate cake — and a phoned-in greeting from Little Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, who warbled "Happy Birthday" in his New Jersey accent.

She cried when she first heard about it, but the extra chromosome in her fourth grandchild's DNA put Kathy Coughlin on a fast track to a place that she hadn't fathomed. She stayed at her newborn granddaughter's bedside as she endured multiple open-heart surgeries, a feeding tube insertion and other surgeries that are often part of Down Syndrome diagnosis. Now, looking to raise money for the Down Syndrome cause, Coughlin is doing the most symbolic thing she can think of: walking 1,000 miles, the distance separating her from her son's family in Baltimore.

Although Nat Adderley Jr. has plenty of jazz in his genes - his father was the cornet-wielding composer who performed and recorded with his uncle, famed alto saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley - don't expect him to seem surprised that his career skewed into pop and R&B. The 57-year-old pianist, born in the Panhandle town of Quincy, barely remembers his father's stint touring in the Cannonball Adderley Quintet, pumping out soul jazz with double-bassist...

Happy Mother's Day! What? Thought it was in May, did you? That's because you're not a Thai Buddhist. This Sunday, South Florida's 7,000 Thais will mark two occasions: Mother's Day and the 80th birthday of their homeland's Queen Sirikit. They'll gather from 10 a.m. to noon at the only Thai temple in South Florida, Wat Buddharangsi in south Miami-Dade. "The two days don't usually coincide, but this year, they do," says says Khanya Moolsiri of Cooper City, president of the Thai-American Association.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently returned from what may likely to be her last official trip to Israel. Clinton has said she would leave the cabinet post, even if President Obama is re-elected. The visit to Israel followed a somewhat shaky stop in Egypt where Clinton was occasionally booed. In Israel Clinton met with Israeli leaders and discussed the escalating violence in Syria, the situation in Egypt and Palestine and Iran's nuclear program. Clinton also reaffirmed U.S. ties with Israel.

The Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center in North Miami Beach celebrated Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, through an exhibit, a singing competition, a torch lighting, flag raising ceremony and carnival. Chaim Shacham, the consul general of Israel to Florida and Puerto Rico who attended and spoke at the MAR-JCC's Israel 64 celebration, said "It was heartwarming to see so many of the Jewish community celebrating Israel's independence. This was another example of the close ties between the Miami community and the State of Israel.

This past Monday, February 6, was President Ronald Reagan's 101 birthday. Happy Birthday, Mr. President! Still, I have some distressing news for my Republican friends: Ronald Reagan is dead. His is a sort of out-of-body birthday. It also bears mentioning that the last year he was President was 1988, so we've had now 24 Reagan--less years. But the only person the Republicans speak about is Reagan Reagan Reagan.

Some folks obviously prefer to celebrate their birthday behind bars - instead of in a bar. Sarasota County Sheriff's deputies say Gladys Brown Pete was drunk and causing a disturbance by threatening her landlord and another woman with a knife in each of her hands, reports the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Deputies later found one knife at the residence and another concealed in Pete's bra. Guess she wanted to make a point of celebrating her 54th birthday.

Happy birthday to you! We've rounded up the best free offers from South Florida restaurants so you can enjoy complimentary breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert to celebrate. Get the free yummies with an email address and be truthful about your birth date. A valid ID is required to get the goods. Breakfast: Get a free breakfast valued at $7.99 immediately when you join the IHOP Pancake Revolution email club at IHOP.com. You'll get additional free meals on your birthday and on the anniversary when you join.

It seems some folks would rather celebrate their birthday behind bars - instead of in a bar. Roosevelt Smoaks II celebrated his 27th birthday in a very special way: In jail, reports The Gainesville Sun. And this Gainesville man didn't have to spend his birthday alone in jail - his kid brother was also arrested. When cops tried to pull them over for a traffic violation, they reportedly fled. But not for long. Cops found his kid brother with a cell phone that allegedly detailed plans for a drug deal stored in his text messages.